Advice to Householders

In this book you will find everything that will give you success in married life. Find all the essential guidelines you have been looking for that will make you an ideal person–a loving husband or wife, a good father or mother a joyous member of your family, and a gem among human beaings.

All over the world the problems of disharmony, divorce, dissension and chaos are rampant among married couples. Consequently, children growing up in these disrupted families become discontented and contribute to increasing tension and restlessness in the world.

Swami Jyotirmayananda, the author of over seventy books on different aspects of Yoga and Vedanta, has now focused his attention on the problems that householders face which seem to eat up the vitals of modern society. Backed up by the wisdom of the Vedas-the ancient wisdom of the Sages of India-and his own intuitive perception, Swami Jyotirmayananda is an unparalleled authority on the problems that face families all over the world.

In this book you will receive guidance for developing a more profound love between husband and wife for imparting a meaningful education to you children, for discovering the spiritual resources needed to overcome obstacles. For controlling the mind by meditation, and for promoting all that is good and beautiful in life.

“Householders are the backbone of human society”––says Swami Jyotirmayananda in this inspiring book, Advice to Householders. All cultural advancement, all forms of progress that humanity is proud of are rooted in healthy family life.

In our times technological advancement has made amazing strides. The space that physically separates one person from another is shrinking. Spaceships are even being sent out to explore the distant recesses of the universe and bring them within our reach. And yet, despite this conquest of physical space, human beings are unable to come close to each other in spiritual and psychological communion. There is so much disharmony and dissension in most families. There is insecurity in marital life. Even after living together for many years, a husband may divorce his wife, or a wife her husband. And the children must bear the brunt of growing up in a family with disharmony and dissension.

This present book contains a series of lectures given by Swami Jyotirmayananda to the Hindu community of Orlando, Florida, USA on October 29 and 30, 1988. Within these two days, in four sessions, Swami Jyotirmyananda covered a great range of topics related to householders. The audience listened to him with rapt attention, and many expressed the view that if a book were to be brought out containing these talks, it would be a great blessing for all those who seek harmany and peace in family life. This book is the result of their wishers.

This book gives a profound insight as well as practical guidance for unity between husband and wife, between parents and children, between family and society. The Hindu view of marriage brings a new vision in the meaning of human relationships. Swami Jyotirmayananda says; sense––pleasure (Bhoga) is not the goal of life. When sense––pleasure is given its proper place, then, it becomes a means to discovering spiritual union between two person– husband and wife. When pleasure is not held as the highest in life then it becomes easy for a person to practice deeper adjustments for a harmonized family life. Yoga (union with god) is the Goal of life.

What is true love? How should a child be educated? How should adverse situations be faced? How should Yoga be practised in daily life? How can one live a life of harmony and peace? What are the duties of a householder? How can we promote peace and harmony in the world? For the answers to these and many other vital questions turn to pages of this book. You will find a wealth of insight that will bring a profound change in your life, and you enjoy a new type of happiness beyond your imagination.

Undoubtedly this book will prove to be a fountain source of inspiration for married couples and householders all over the world who are seeking success in their married life.

We thank our staff for their devoted work leading to the printing and publication of this unique book.

May you attain success, harmony, peace, prosperity and Divine Enlightenment!